Let’s Walzer! Once again we are right now in the peak of the great Viennese balls season. The most famous and prestigious events take place since many decades and Vienna still celebrates the old tradition of balls as opulent as possible. Viennese balls are not only an opportunity for enjoyment but also a way of getting together, connecting to people and of course showing off.
They are very numerous, from the more traditional ones such as the Opera Ball (Der Opernball), the Ball of the Vienna Philharmonic (Der Wiener Philharmonikerball) or the Viennese Coffee House Owners (Der Kaffeesiederball) to those for charity and social issues, such as the Life Ball or the Diversity Ball.
Before buying your tickets, with this post I want to share you some of my advices to get ready and enjoy your evening in the best way. There are few things you need to know before attending a Viennese ball.
TICKETS
Buy them in advance, especially for the most famous and prestigious. Official dates are normally available one year earlier in all official websites.
ARRIVAL
Balls usually open at around 7 PM and the opening ceremony starts at around 9 PM. Come a few minutes before 9, that’s enough, especially if you have a reserved seat. Check in advance the program in the official website.
DRESS CODE
Your best business card is your dress! The etiquette is very important: if you are not dressed accordingly, unfortunately you won’t be able to enter the ball.
If for women a long, elegant and refined evening dress is a must, a white tie (Frack) or Smoking is essential for men. In some balls, less formal, an elegant suit with tie is enough.
Clearly accessories are important. So prefer elegant and not tacky jewelry, a posh clutch bag and stylish shoes.
From my experience I suggest you to choose feminine but comfortable shoes instead of high stilettos if you are not used to them. A tapered shoe with a medium heel is fine and it will save you from foot strain especially if you don’t have a reserved seat. Take that in mind!
MAKEUP & HAIR STYLING
Actually that is applicable to everything: don‘t experience the day itself. Entrust it to serious professionals or you can do it by yourself, maybe even give it a try for a few days in order to avoid last minute disasters.
DINNER
Another point not to underestimate is the dinner, almost never included in the ticket. Apart from being quite expensive, in my experience, it is not very high quality either. If you have food allergies, other point, you might not eat anything. I suggest you to have dinner before your arrival to the ball at home or book a table at a nearby restaurant.
*post not sponsored
